The ordination of Sturge was the first of the new millennium and took place in the midsummer of the year 1012.
His opponent was Threap, a man of great experience and many Thakrian guilds, but currently of the Bandits guild, like Sturge himself. Sturge, who had always remained loyal to his profession, had support from all corners of Avalon; in contrast Threap, never afraid of burning his bridges in the past, could only call upon a small, though talented and close-knit, team from the heart of Thakria.
The scene was set then for the contest between two of the Thief profession. Uniquely, they had both planned the same strategy of seizing the amethyst and then guarding the gem-holder in a mountain side stronghold, defended by runic staves, traps and magical enchantments. The start of the quest was signalled by the divine amethyst being hurled from Mount Olympus and the race was on. It was Sturge himself who reached it first as it came to rest upon the roof of a Parrian dwelling, and he quickly retreated to his already prepared stronghold.
Support for Sturge was numerically overwhelming and he went to ground in his defensive position surrounded by a 'shield wall' of supporters. However, Threap's team started strongly and agressively claiming all the first kills in the opening exchanges on the slopes of Sapience, but failing to break through the lines to get to Sturge himself. The effort began to take its toll and when Threap was slain by Allanon it marked a turning point and Sturge's defenders began to gel and the attacks of Threap's Thakrian cohorts weakened.
Constantly on hand throughout were the Animists Wolfsong and Fizzy who worked tirelessly to tend the casualties, Threap himself was one among many resurrected through their use of the spirit magics. These tireless efforts resulted in a constant replenishment of the attackers and it became only a matter of time until the deadlock was broken.
Inevitably the two contenders clashed after a time. A newly concerted effort by Threap's supporters created a breach in the shield wall and Threap broke through to get his hands on Sturge. Although Sturge came out on top in that skirmish, shortly after he was forced back into the cave of Sapience causing the amethyst to be wrenched from his grasp and be lost, for the gem cannot be taken beyond view of the skies.
For some time the fighting continued on the slopes of the mountain as many didn't realise what had happened to the gem in the melee. This allowed Sturge to slink away and retrieve the amethyst from the northern mountains where it lay, but his only plan was to return to his defensive position around which the battle still raged. In his hurry to get back to his supporters Sturge made a potentially disasterous mistake, taking the gem from beneath the clouds where no mortal can hold it and once again it was lost to him. The gem was hurled to the far west of Avalon and this time it was Zakath of Threap's side who was the first to react. For the first time the gem had changed hands.
Now it was the turn of Threap and his supporters to retire to their prepared defensive positions on the slopes of the northern mountains approaching Archangel. The gem was passed to Zenichiro to hold and they took up position. Sturge called back all his supporters to regroup and plan their attack showing patience and good leadership but also allowing Threap's supporters to further strengthen their defences on the side of the mountain of Archangel as they awaited the coming assault. When it did finally come they were well prepared and easily repelled it.
Further attacks also faltered, though some brave souls did manage to breach the lines individually and at one point Zenichiro lost the gem, but recovered quickly in the confusion to grasp it again before anyone could capitalise.
Finally, after long battles, Threap's defences could not stand against the force of numbers weighed against their position and the gem was lost. Mirrigold held it briefly before it was wrenched from her grasp and to the very depths of Moonstone lake it fell.
Sturge was first to the lake but Threap was upon him like lightening and for moments when time stood still the two contenders were toe to toe with the gem between them. They fought and Threap fell, Sturge fled for his defences on Sapience while his supporters harried Threap's side as they tried to re-group, and it was some time before they were ready to launch an attack.
The first attack on the position was easily repulsed and the defences continued to hold, but supplies were becoming a problem for both sides after so much action; pouches devoid of herbs and poisons, magical items with their power spent and the whole position littered with empty potion bottles. The fortress of staves, rituals, icewalls and traps held fast as the sands of time drained away.
Threap was continually harried by the clever use of an Avalon ritual to stop him returning from an enforced trip to the pool of life. As the last seconds ticked away, final desperate attempts made by Threap's side to break the line were in vain and their leader was kept at bay, trapped by rituals and magic as he struggled to travel east along the highway toward Coriona and Sapience. Physical attacks also rained down upon him, Plaman especially was a thorn in his side at this time and as the final sands fell, there so fell Threap's valiant attempt.
Sturge was victorious and later that day was ordained as Damocles, the god of chaos.
